Electromagnetic counting device



March 15, 1949. J. l. BELLAMY Re. 23,089

ELECTROMAGNETIC COUNTING DEVIGE` Original-Filed July 2, 1943 v 5 SheetsFSheet March 15, 1949. .1. l. BELLAMY Re. 23,089

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March 15, 1949. J, 1 BELLAMY R@ 23,089

ELECTRMAGNETIC GOUNTING DEVICE 0rigna}.'vFi1ed July 2, 1943 l 5 Svheelts-Sheet 5 jig/7 o G 0 O o I -N La/UH 22g/Z O o, @mmh o fi 2lb/ff? J5- o I .No om o o www #7F JUZIHZE//amy filly LAMY ,March 15, 1949.

Original Filed July 2,

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Mach 15, 1949. J. l. BELLAMY ELETROHAGNETIC COUNTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 2, 1943 Reissued Mar. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTROMAGNETIC COUNTING DEVICE John I. BeliamyWheaton, Ill., assignor to Keilogg Switchboard and Supply Company, Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Iliinois Original No. 2,441,001, dated May 4, 1948, Serial No. 493,312, July 2, 1943. Application for reissue August 28, 1948, Serial No. 46,621

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Claims. (Cl. 177-353) armature and closes its own contact pair. -By

lthis arrangement, an individual marking or work circuit corresponding to the last operated one of the armatures is closed, and the contact pairs associated with all preceding and succeeding armatures are in open condition; yet only a single contact pair is provided for any armature.

Electromagnetic devices for counting received movable stepping mechanisms, and because of their unreliability when not accurately manufactured and frequently serviced.

In a counting device of the successively movable class members are provided either equal to or double the maximum number of impulses to be counted. These members are caused to respond successively to the received impulses of a series. These successively responding members are usually the armatures of a chain of relays comprising what istermed a counting chain, but

may be armatures responding successively to successive magnetization of a common pole structure.

A specific object of this invention is to provide an electromagnetic impulse counting device of the last-named type wherein the required number of armatures is no greater than the number of impulses counted thereby. This object is attained by providing that any armature Iother than the rst partakes of two movements-a. preparatory movement upon the cessation of the impulse serving to operate the preceding armature, and a final or executing movement upon the receipt of the impulse to which it pertains.

A further object is to provide a structure of the concerned type wherein the necessity for serially related contacts in the work ormarking circuits controlled thereby is rendered unnecessary. This object is attained by providing that the second contact of a pair closed by the operation of a given armature is moved out of engagement with the rst contact of such pair incidental to the executing movement of the next succeeding armature, whereby any armature after the rst opens the contact pair closed by the preceding A feature of this arrangement is that the ilrst or preliminary movement imparted to an armature succeeding the first is accomplished by force imparted thereto through the contact pair closed by the currently responding armature, thereby simplifying .the interlocking arrangement.

A further feature is that the improved counting device performs its counting operation responsive solely to the impulses delivered to a single magnet winding.

A further specific object is to provide a device of the character under discussion wherein the armatures and cooperating contact-blades, or springs, are arranged in stackups (or assemblies) disposed side by side, each such stackup containing an armature and the associated contact blades, and wherein the concerned parts are secured on economically produced mounting strips susceptible of bank assembly, each such strip containing a corresponding part for each of the stackups of the device.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent as the description progresses.

The drawings The accompanying drawings, comprising Figs. 1 to 26, show a first embodiment of the invention in Figs. 1 to 20 and a second embodiment of the invention in Figs. 21 to 26:

Fig. 1 shows a front view of the first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is afront view with the bank assembly and part 24 removed;

Fig. 3 is a front sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 'I i Fig. 4 is a front sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 5 is a top view;

Fig. 6 is a left-side view of a portion of the device;

Fig. 'I is a side sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig 5;

Fig. 8 is a side sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a circuit drawing showing the ilrst embodiment of the device used in a signalling system;

Figs. to 19 show plan views of the respective parts entering into the bank assembly including armatures and contact blades:

Figs. 10A to 19A show end views, taken from the right, of the parts shown in Figs. 10 to 19;

Fig. 14B shows an end view, taken from the left, of the part shown in Fig-14;

Fig. is a plan view of the rear portion of the structure upon which the parts shown in Figs. 10 to 19 are to be assembled:

Fig. 21 is a front view of the second embodiment of the invention; 1

Fig. 22 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 23 is a left-side view ot a portion of the second embodiment;

Fig. 24 is a side sectional view taken along the line 24-24 ofFig. 22;

Fig. 25 is a side sectional view taken along'the line 25-25 of Fig.. 22; and

Fig. 26 is a circuit drawing showing the second embodiment of the device used in a signalling system.

DETAILED Drscrrrrrorr' First embodiment .horizontal portion on which the bank structure including contact springs and armatures is mounted. Member I2 has a longer lower horizontal portion, extending underneath the magnets to serve as a mounting plate or bracing structure for the pole pieces I6 and 2li, as well as serving as a magnetic shield between the disclosed device and a similar device mounted directly below it.

Magnet I3 is termed the impulse magnet in that the successive impulses of a. series to be counted are delivered to it. while magnet Il is termed the hold magnet in that it is energized continuously during the counting operation and for as long a time thereafter asl the indication of the number of impulses counted is to be retained.

As seen best in Fig. 4, a pole piece I6 is secured to the front end of impulse magnet I3 by screw I5, and a pole pole piece 20 is secured to the front end of hold magnet I1 by screw I 3. These two pole pieces are referred to herein as the impulse bar and as the hold bar respectively. It is to be noted that the impulse bar is of oblong configuration as seen in Fig. 4, but has the lower 1efthand portion removed to maintain it spaced well away from the associated portion of impulse bar I6, for magnetic isolation.

The non-magnetic bracket 2| (seen in front view at Fig. 3) serves to maintain the impulse and hold bars I6 and 2li in fixed relation to each other independent of the screws I5 and I9. Bracket 2| is secured to bars I6 and 20 by rivets 22. It is notched to provide clearance for the heads of screws I5 and I9, and it is provided with feet through which it is secured to the lower horizontal portionv r'f frame member I2 by screws 23, thus rigidifying the structure.

As is shown in proille in Fig. 7, the impulse bar (or pole piece; I6, besides the rear portion attached to magnet I3 behind bracket 2|, comprises the horizontal portion shown in cross-sec- 4 tion in Figs. 3 and 4 and the main portion shown in full iront view in Fig. 2. 'I'he front portion oi the impulse bar I6 is provided with openings seen in Fig. 2 to sive access to the screws I5 and I l. As is seen in Figs. l, 5, 7, and 8, the impulse bar Il is provided with an impulse yoke 24 attached thereto by screws 25. This yoke delivers the magnetic impulses to the armatures contained in the stackups Si to SIG (Figs. 1 and 5). Yoke 24 is notched at the upper portion to provide ten fingers, one for each of the stackups SI to SIII. The operiy spaces between these fingers permit ready inspection of the parts lying to the rear thereof and permit the ready insertion of an adjusting tool. A pair of positioning lugs 2l.

on yoke 24, extend rearwardly to engage the l upper face of impulse bar I6 (Figs. 1 and 7).

These lugs are preferably held firmly in contact with the impulse bar I6 as screws 25 are being tightened, thereby denitely locating the yoke 24 with respect to the upper face of hold bar 2li.

As seen best in Figs. 7 and 8, theupper portion of impulse yoke 24 is bent rearwardly, upwardly, and again rearwardly, to provide two offset horizontal pole faces 35 and 36 for each of the ten finger portions of the yoke. It is throughthese pole faces that the impulses to be counted are delivered to the armatures and cooperating structure pursuant to the counting operation.

Each of the counting assemblies, or stackups, SI to SID, mounted in a bank assembly above and to the rear of the magnet structure, cornprises a pair of contact blades, or springs. 43 and 54, an armature 56, and a stop-supporting blade or spring 65, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The explanation of the bank construction and assembly is given hereinafter in connection with Figs. 10 to 19. It may be noted here that the contact springs 43 and 54 of any stackup are maintained insulated from each other and that the contact springs 54 of stackups SI to SIII are in common connection with each other and with terminal 55 (Figs. 5 and 14).

Preferably, all portions of any of the stackups SI to SIU are non-magnetic except for armature 56 and stop 66 of such stackup. The armatures 56 are spring-suspended at the rear in close proximity to base strip 5I, providing a magnetic return path for any armature 53, through base strip 5I, and thence to frame member I2, across the air gap represented by the thickness of the thin strip material from which stop-support blades 65 are formed.

In the operation of the device, given more fully hereinafter, when impulse magnet I3 is energized and impulse bar I6 is thereby magnetized, the magnetic flux passes through impulse yoke 24 and reaches pole faces 35 and 36 for each stackup. One portion of the flux passes thence to each armature 56 from its pole face 35 and another portion reaches such armature from its pole face 36, by way of the concerned magnetic stop 66. Flux passing through the first-named path creates an upward pull on the armature, tending to maintain it in its normal position, while flux passing through the latter path creates a'. downward pull, tending to bring the armature down against stop 66.

As shown in Fig. 8 for stackup S2, all of the armatures in .stackups S2 to Sill are normally closer to the upper pole face 35 than they are to thepole face 36 as extended inwardly by the concerned magnetic stop 66. But, the forward end of bracket 51 on armature 56 in stackup SI (Fig. 7) is bent upwardly suillciently to maintain armature 58 of the first stackup SI in a normally advanced position,L nearer the stop 8l than to the pole face 85, whereby the amature of the first stackup responds to the first impulse by moving downwardly until it engages the associated stop 88. By this arrangement, only the first armature responds to the first impulse. It will be explained hereinafter how the initial downward movement of the first armature in response to the first impulse is followed by a final movement of such armature upon the cessation of the first impulse, and how this final movement of the rst armature movesthe second amature to an advanced position'corresponding to the normal advanced position of the first armature, to condition the second armature to respond to the second impulse.

Armature 58 ofthe rst stackup has a bracket 51 attached to the upper portion thereof, as by spotwelding. Bracket 51 has a part which extends sidewardly and upwardly as seen in Fig. 1, and which then divides into an arm 58 extending to the left to overlie the off-normal stackup ON, and an arm 8i extending to the right to overlie the contact springs of stackup SI. Insulating bushing 58, affixed to the underside of arm 58, maintains arm 58 out of engagement with the adjacent off-normal spring 30, while a similar insulating bushing 82 attached to the underside of arm 6I maintains arm 6I out of engagement with the upper contact spring 43 of stackup SI.

Each of the brackets 60, attached to the armatures 55 in stackups S2 to SIU, carries a left arm 63 branching ofi' from a lower level than the left arm 58 of bracket 51. Each of the arms 63 carries an insulating bushing 64, which underlies and supports the contact spring 54 of the preceding stackup.

In Figs. 1, '7, and 8, it will be observed that the upper face of the hold bar 20 underlies the armatures 58 to the rear of the stops 86 soas to tend to attract the armaturesdownwardly when the hold bar is magnetized by an energization of the hold magnet I1. In the intended operation of the device, the magnetization of bar 20 is su`f`"`v` ficient to attract an armature 58 downwardly from stop position to final position between impulses, but is insuficient to operatively attract an armature downwardly from either its initial position or its advanced position.

In Fig. 9, which illustrates a simple signalling system including the first embodiment of the counting device, the circuit elements of the counting device are shown within the broken-line rectangle. These circuit elements include the singlewound impulse magnet I3, the double-Wound hold magnet I1, contacts 38 and 32 of the off-normal stackup ON, and the contacts 43 and 54 of each of the counting stackups SI to SII). Associated with the counting device thus illustrated 'are three control relays comprising a line relay 83, a release relay 84, and a series relay 85. Each of the relays 84 and 85 is slow-restoring as is indicated by the conventional representation of a conducting sleeve surrounding the core of the relay beneath its winding. The line over which line relay 83 is controlled is illustrated as containing a normally open key 82, and a telephone-type calling device whose interrupter contacts are illustrated diagrammatically at 8|. Such a calling device is arranged to transmit any desired series of interruption impulses from 1 to 10, as is well known.

A buzzer 88 is shown interconnected with the off-normal contacts. and signal lamps 81 are shown interconnected withthe counting contacts.

Operation When a signal is to be transmitted over th line illustrated in Fig. 9, key 82 is first closed, thereby operating line relay 83, ywhich in turn operates the slow-restoring release relay 84. Release relay 84 prepares they impulse circuit at its left contacts, while at its right contacts it enonly momentary length and they are separated by only a momentary interval, as is well understood. Line relay 83 is thereby restored momentarily -a corresponding number of times. Being slow-restoring, release relay 84 remains operated..

Each time it restores, line relay 83 transmits an impulse to the winding of series relay 85 and an impulse to the winding of impulse magnet I3. Impulse magnet I3 is thus momentarily energized once for each interruption ofthe circuit at contacts 8 I. Series relay 85 responds to the first irnpulse. Being slow-restoring, it remains operated throughout the series of impulses and then restores a moment later.

Upon operating, series relay 85 disconnects offnormal contacts 32 and counting contacts 54 from the front contact of the upper armature of release relay 84 to avoid a preliminary sounding of the buzzer 86 and to avoid momentary flashing of the lamps 81 passed over by the counting operation.

Relay 85 also closes a circuit lfor the other winding of magnet I1, through the front contact of the right-hand armature of relay 84, thereby increasing the energization of hold magnet I1 sufficiently to enable it to bring about the final movement of any of the armatures'56 which are moved from advanced position to stop position responsive to an energization of impulse magnet I-3.

Returning now to the structural ones of the drawings,l Figs. 1 to 20, no immediate effect is produced by the preliminary energization of the` first winding of hold magnet I1 incidental to the operation of release relay 84, nor is any immediate eiIect produced incidental to the increased energization of hold magnet I1 incidental to the operation of series relay 85.

First impulse received Responsive to the magnetization of impulse bar I5 and impulse yoke 24 upon the delivery of the rst impulse to magnet I3, armature 58 in stackup SI is attracted downwardly because (in its normally advanced position) it stands nearer the upper surface of its stop 55 than it does vto its pole face 35. The downward movement of armature 58 is arrested when the forward end thereof encounters the upper surface of spring 55 to which the stop 65 is attached, as by spotwelding. The separation at that time between the armature 55 and stop 68 is the thickness of the thin material o'f which spring 65 is composed. IThis spring is stiffened throughout the major portion of its length by having the sideportions upturne'd rms. 1, s, '1, and 19). Armature u passes free- By being thus moved downwardly from advanced position into stop position, armature 56 of stackup Sl is brought within the effective field of inuence of the upper face of the now strongly energized hold bar 2i), but no further downward movement of the armature occurs for the time being, for the concerned stop 66 is held in its illustrated normal position by the ux interlinkage between the forward portion of its upper face and the pole face 36 with which it is in contact.

Responsive to the movement of armature 56of stackup Si into stop position, the attached arm 56 moves oil-normal contact spring 3D downwardly just sumciently to make contact with contact spring 32. At the same time, the attached arm 6i moves contact spring 43 of stackup Si downwardly just sufficiently to make contact with contact spring 54 of such stackup.

First impulse terminated When the iirst impulse is terminated, and impulse bar I5 and impulse yoke 24 are consequently demagnetized, the flux interlinkage in stackup Si between pole face 36 and stop 66 ceases, freeing the stop. Since the armature 55 of stackup Si is in stop position, within the effective field of hold bar 2D, such armature 56 is immediately attracted downwardly `(carrying stop 66 before it) until the lower face of the associated stop-support spring 65' is brought into engagement with the upper face of hold bar 20. Such armature 56 is then in its final position, one impulse having been received and counted.

Bracket 51 partakes of the nal movement of armature 56 of stackup SI. Its arm 56 presses contact spring 30 more firmly into engagement with contact spring 32 of the olf-normal stackup, contact spring 32 yielding to permit the downward movement. Contact spring 32 may be made of any desired thickness accordingto the contact pressure desired between the contact portions of springs 3 0 and 32.

Arm 6i of bracket 51, acting through its insulating bushing 62, bends spring 43 Ain stackup Si downwardly by an amount equal to the executing movement of the associated armature 56,

thereby pressing the concerned contact springs 43 and 54 more firmly into engagement. With these contact springs already in engagement at the beginning of the executing movement, contact spring 54 is moved downwardly a distance equal to the nal movement of the associated armature, whereby the desired contact pressure between the contacts of the concerned springs 43 and 54 is applied. At this point, it should be noted that the lower contact springs 54 of the stackups Si to SID are preferably composed of comparatively thin sheet material', which requires but little flexing pressure. Moreover, the contact springs 54 are preferably tensioned downwardly` slightly, each against the upper face of its underlying bushing 64. Such contact springs accordingly rest lightly on the respective bushings 64, and do not of themselves resist downward movement. The resistance to the downward movement necessary to build up the desired contact pressure between the contacts' of a pair of springs 43 and 54 is secured by the normal upward tension of the contact springs 43, ot stackups S2 to Sill. lEach such contact spring is so tensioned that it normally urges its overlying bushing 62 upwardly by an amount about equal l to the desired contact pressure.

As the spring 54 in stackup Si is forced down- .wardly by spring 43, during the final movement of the associated armature 56. the concerned spring 54, through the underlying' insulating bushing 64, forces downwardly the arm 53 attached to bracket 66 carried by the armature 5I in stackup S2. thereby forcing downwardly such bracket 6l and attached amature a distance equal to the final movement of the armature in the rst stackup. Arm 6I in stackup S2, through its underlying 'insulating bushing 62, moves the associated upper contact spring 43 downwardly against the trapped upward pressure of the latter, but not a sufiicient distance to engage its associated lower contact spring 54. Armature 56 in stackup S2 partakes of the downward movement of the attached bracket 6|), whereby it is moved to its advance position, below the midpoint between the associated lower face 35 and the upper face o'fits-stop 66. It then occupies an advanced position'between these two pole faces substantially as illustrated in Fig. 7 as the normal advanced position of the armature 56 in stackup Si.

Second impulse received If the impulse series being counted contains a second impulse, upon the receipt of such second impulse by magnet i 3 and the consequent energization of impulse bar I6 and attached yoke 24, armature 56 of stackup S2, being in its abovedescribed advanced position below the magnetic center line is attracted downwardly into its stop position. in engagement with its associated stop 66. Bracket 60, attached to the armature of stackup S2, is moved downwardly a like distance, thereby carrying downwardly its arms 6l and 63. Such arm 63 carries downwardly its overlying insulating bushing 64. thereby removing the support from the lower contact spring 54 of stackup Si. Since such contact spring 54 is lightly tensioned downwardly, it immediately moves out of contact with the associated upper contact spring 43 in stackup Si by an amount equal to the intermediate movement of the armature in stackup S2. This breaking of the contact in stackup Si occurs at the beginning of the intermediate movement in stackup S2.

Arm 6i of bracket 60 associated with stackup S2. upon partaking of the intermediate move- -ment of the associated armature, moves the associated upper contact spring 43 downwardly just suiliclently to come into contact with the associated contact spring 54 in stackup S2, which contact is made at the termination of the concerned intermediate movement, whereas the contact between the springs 43 and 54 of stackup SI is broken as above described at the beginning of such movement, There is, therefore, no overlap period during which two adjacent contact pairs are closed. Accordingly, the device may be used in a situation where a number of them operate to control successively a common group; of conductors, and the onebeing operated will then not interfere with a control being effected by another similar device. One example of an arrangement requiring this feature of non-interference between similar counting devices is found in Patent No. 1,683,857, issued September 16, 1928, to Bellamy and Gardner (see Figs. 3 and 5).

moment later by the restoration of release relay Second impulse terminated 84. Series relay 85 operates incidentally at this Upon the termination of the second impulse. time. and a further impulse is incidentally transthe armature 56 of stackup S2. having been admitted to magnet I3, in the interval required for vanced to stop position, within the effective field 5 release relay a4 to restore of inuencc of the upper face of hold bor 2li, is When release relay B4 restores, it open-circuits moved downwardly into contact with the hold relay 35, magnets |3 and l1, call buzzer as, and bar except for the separation between the armathe lighted one of the lamps s1, Relay a5 'reture and the hold bar representing the thickness stores a moment, later,

of the sheet material of which the associated l Referring again to the concerned structural Stop-support Spring is oonstructed- The essodrawings, upon the described deenergization of ciated stop 68 is thereby carried downwardly out hold magnet l1 and the consequent demagnetlza 0f engagement with the associated face 36 of yoke non of hold bar 2n, au operated ones of the arma- 24. introducing e substantiel breek in the magtures 56 are released and are restored to their netic circuit through the stop and the impulse l illustrated normal condition by the concerned yoke. n t th contact: springs.

As an incident to the nal movemen of e armature of stackup S2', the upper contact spring Bank construction' I3 of stackup S2 is given its lnal downward Referring now particularly to Figs. 10 to 20, movement. Since the springs 43 and 54 of this 20 and to the auxiliary views associated with Figs. stackup are in contact, the lower contact spring to19, the construction permitting the parts of such stackup partakes of the iinal movement comprising stackups SI to sin of the device te and imparts it to arm 6310i stackup S3, whereby be assembled into a compact, economically prothe concerned bracket 60 moves the armature duced bank will be described. This bank asor stackup S3 into its advanced position, as pre- 25 sembly is held in position by threaded bolts 40 viously described for the armature of stackup S2. (Figs. 5, 'l and 8) which pass through the live aligned openings in the parts illustrated in Figs. Succeedmg impulses 10 to 20. The preferred arrangement is that the If the impulse series under consideration con- Darts illustrated in Flgs- 10 to 18 are preassemtains succeeding impulses, the armatures of the bled in benk form and securely held together by concerned succeeding stackups S3 to Sill respond three bolts i0 passing downwardly through the thereto as described hereinbefore for stackup S2'. outside and Center bolt openings in the parts illus- That is, each such armature executes its advance treted ln Figs- 10 to 17 and threaded into outsr'de movement responsive to the nnal movement of and center openings in the base member 52 (Fie. the preceding armature, upon the termination of la), following Which the preossernbled bank iS` the impulse pertaining to such preceding armaplaced on the upper erm of frame member l2; ture; executes its intermediate movement rewith the lower ends of the three assembled bolts sponsive to the receipt of the impulse pertain- Passing freely into the outside and middle bolt ing thereto; and executes its final movement reopenings in the freine member; and with the sponsive to the cessation of such impulse. The assembly Shown in Fig. 19 located between the contact pair directly associated with any such Dreessenbled benk and the frame member. IF01- armature is not closed responsive to the advance ,lowing this the tWo remaining bolts 4U may be movement of such armature; is preferably barely passed down through the intermediate bolt closed responsive to the completion of the interopenings (Second and fourth), and threaded into mediate movement of such armature; is more the correspondingly tapped Openings in the upper rmly closed, to build up the desired contact erm 0f frame member l2 t0 Seoulely hold-all pressure, responsive to the final movement of Darts of the benk assembly in the desired aS- such armature; and is again opened responsive sembled position illustrated in Figs. 1, 5, 7, and 8. to the beginning of the intermediate movement Top plete 4l (Fig- 10) is engaged by the heads of the next, sueeeeding armature, lf a further ofthe bolt 40 in assembled position to receive impulse ls received, the thrust of the tightened bolts. Insulation When line relay a3 (Fig 9) comes to rest at strip 42 (Fig. 11) lies directly beneath top plate the end of the series of impulses, it again closes 4l t0 insulate from this Plate the individual upthe circuit of release relay s4 steadily, and meinper Contact Springs included in the assembly rains open the elreull; of impulse magnet la and shown in Fig. 12, which assembly lies below inserles relay 85. Relay 85 restores a moment sulatlng Strip 42 in the assembly bankiater. Upon so doing, it open-circuits the sec- The assembly Sl'loWn in Figs. 12 and 12A inond winding of hold magnet Il, thereby reduccludes a strip of,insulating material with the ing the current drain of this magnet to an ecoillustrated live bolt openings therethrough, nomical value, leaving the magnet energized by through Which the Strip is maintained in its its first winding sumelently to maintain any fully desired aligned position in the assembled tank. operated counting armatures in fully operated Each 0f the Contact Springs 43 is attached in condition. fixed position to the upper side of the insulat- At its back contact, relay as extends ground ing Strip 44, as by tabs 12 formed by punching potential to vcontact spring 32 in the off-normal i5 them out of the spring material, leaving Openstackup, thereby sounding buzzer 8s as a @all ings therein indicated at 1I. The lateral posisignal. At the same time, ground potential is tion of the springs on the strip is conveniently extended to contact springs 32 in Istackups SI maintained by having the retaining tabs lie in to SII), thereby closing a circuit through one or opposed notches in the edge of the strip 44, one another of the contact pairs 43, 54 to light the 70 such notch being shown at 13. Each of the lamp lcorresponding to the number of impulses springs 43 has opposed arcuate notches between received and counted. its openings l I, leaving substantial clearance be- When the transmitted signal is to be extintween the spring and the assembly bolts, to avoid guished, key B2 is restored to normal position, accidental contact and arcing from spring tovbolt,

whereupon line relay 83 restores, followed a 75 Spacing member 45 (Fig. 13) lies between the Y sacco assemblyshown in Fig. 12 and the assembly shown in Fig. 14. Strip 45 may be of metal, but is preferably of insulation, as indicated, to avoid danger of contact between it and the pair of fastening tabs 15 of assembly I4 if such a tab should be incorrectly formed. These tabs are received in openings 14 in strip 45.

The assembly shown in Fig. 14 includes the comb structure wherein the ten lower contact springs 54 of the stackups SI to SII) are the teeth portions. and the interconnecting back portion is 41. 'Ihe bolt openings through the back portion 41 of the comb structure are substantially larger than the diameter of mounting bolts 40, whereby the comb structure is maintained out o1' electrical contact with such bolts. The upper portion of this assembly is the insulating' strip 46, which is notched at the ends, and is secured to the comb structureby a pair of overlying tabs 15, formed integrally with portion 41 of the comb structure.

Y Strip 45 had bolt-size openings, smaller than those of parts 41 and 45, and concentric therewith, whereby the assembly is accurately positioned in the bank. t

Transverse terminal strip 55 (Figs. 5, 14, and 14A) is attached underneath the back portion 41 oi' the comb structure, as by spotwelding; it provides a convenient attaching point for a conductor common to al1 of the lower contact springs 54. A forwardly extending portion of the terminal strip 55 underlies the contact spring 54 of stackup SID of the device, thereby giving this contact spring added stiffness to enable sufficient contact pressure to be built up between this spring and its cooperating contact spring when the tenth impulse of a series is received and counted. This stinening arrangement is neither required nor desired for the preceding contact springs 54, because of the previously described arrangement whereby the normal restoring tension of the upper contact spring 43 in the next succeeding stackup is there employed to secure the desired contact pressure. The forward spring portion ot member 55 may be secured to the overlying contact spring 54, as

'I'he assembly shown in Fig. 14 further includes the spacing strip 48, of the same thickness as terminal strip 55. Spacer strip 48 may be attached to the portion 41 as by spotwelding; it has enlarged boit openings corresponding to those in part 41, and for the same reason.

'I'he insulating strip 45 (Fig. 15) underlies the assembly shown in Fig. 14, and the spacing strip l (Fig. 16) lies underneath strip 49.

The next lower portion of the bank assembly is shown in Fig. 17. It `comprises the ten armatures 55, each of which is attached to a forwardly extending blade portion of the spring member 5I, es by spotwelding at points 11. It is to be noted that each of the armatures 56 is considerably wider at the rear portion. This widened arrangement serves to reduce any tendency of an armature to rotate about its longitudinal axis incidental toits described movements, and it also increases the cross-sectional area of the magnetic air gap seen readily in Figs. 7 and 8 between the rear end of the armature and the front face of the base strip 52.

The assembly of Fig. 17 includes also the bracket 51 attached to the first of the armatures 56 and the brackets 50 attached to the remaining armatures 55. These brackets may be attached as by spotwelding at points 18. These brackets have the previously mentioned insulators 58, 62. and 64 attachedto the arms thereof.

by spotwelding at points 15.

The base member 52 (Fig. 18), which underlies the parts illustrated in Figs. 10 to 18, has a pair of small tapped openings 19 at the left end thereof, in addition to the ve bolt openings 80. The openings 19 are used to attach the offnormal assembly ON in the manner customary for the mounting of individual stackups of contacts on telephone relays.

It is to be noted that the outside and center ones of the bolt openings are each tapped to threadedly receive the threaded portion of a bolt 40, while the intermediate ones of the bolt openings 80 are each enlarged to freely receive the end of a bolt 40. By this arrangement, five similar mounting bolts 40 of the same length may be used; yet only three of them threadedly engage base strip 52, and the second and fourth threadedly engage only the corresponding openy ings in frame member I2.

The assembly shown in Fig. 19 includes the ten stop-support springs 55, which are formed integrally with Vthe rear portion 53. For stiiening purposes, the edges of the forward portions of support springs 55 are turned upwardly as shown in Figs. 1, 19, and 19A. The stop members 65 are attached underneath the forward ends of the support springs 55, as by spotwelding at points 9|.

In Fig. 20, the ve openings in frame I2 for mounting bolts 40 are shown. The second and fourth are tapped for threaded engagement, while the first, third, and fth are enlarged to the bolt diameter. The flve bolts 4I! cooperate with these openings to determine the horizontal location of the assembled bank structure on the frame I2.

In Fig. 20, terminals 61 and I1 may be seen, as well as the rear mounting screws I4 and I5 of these magnets.

Second embodiment Referring now particularly to Figs. 21 to 26, the second embodiment of the improved counting device will be described.

In general operating principle and structure, the second embodiment of the counting device is similar to the first. That is, an armature is caused to execute a plurality of movements` successively, the final one of which causes the next succeeding armature to execute the irst of its movements between impulses by virtue of a mechanical interconnection between adjacent armatures. The principal diierence is that the inflexible mechanical interconnection between adjacent armatures in the first embodiment is replace'd by a resilient interconnection in the second embodiment, whereby an armature, upon responding to its pertaining impulse, is permitted to apply force to such resilient interconnection which force is stored therein until the instant irnpulse is terminated, whereupon the stored force causes the next succeeding armature to move and 58 of magnets I3 from normal position, above the magnetic center In the drawings of the modified embodiment. Pigs. 2l to 25. Ill istl'ie frame member; |02 is the single electromagnet; |03 are the "winding terminals oi such magnet; |04 is the rear mounting screw of the magnet; |05 is the rear or holding winding; is the front or impulse winding; and |01 is a center-pole member which fits closely around the magnetic core of the electromagnet intermediate the windings and |00 and termlnates comparatively close to the lower arm of frame member |0|, thereby placing a considerable magnetic shunt around the portion oi the magnet core encircled by the holding winding |05, for a'lpurpose to be discussed. .Y

The magnetic air gap between the adjacent faces oi frame |0| and center-pole member |01 is maintained constant by the non-magnetic spacing strip |03, through which pass non-magnetic screws |08| holding parts |01, |09, and |0| together. The rectangular front pole piece ||8 is secured to magnet |02 by screw ||9 (Fig. 21). Pole piece IIB is maintained accurately spaced with respect to frame |0| by non-magnetic feet I |0 attached to I I0 by rivets i i2, and to the frame |0| by screws y Magnetic yoke ||4 is removably attached to front pole piece 8 by screws H3. Yoke ||4 is notched to provide inspection and adiustment access to the movable members, leaving ten control extensions ||5, one for each of the stackups Sl' to S10'.y

Each of the extensions ||5 is formed to provide an upper pole portion IIB and a lower pole portion ||1, through which portions movement of the associated armature |3| is controlled.

As seen in Figs. 24 and 25, the members of the bank construction held in place by bolts (Fig. 22) include the top plate I2|, the common interconnecting (comb-back) member |22 for the armature springs |32: insulator strip |23; insulator strip |24 on which the upper contact springs |33 are separately secured substantially as shown in Fig. l2 for springs 43; spacer strip |25; lowerspring insulator strip |26: comb portion |21 with which the lower contact springs |34 are integrally formed substantially as shown in. Fig. 14 for the springs 54; spacer |28 corresponding to part 48 (Fig. 14): lower insulating strip |29; and base member |30. The five bolts |20 afford a magnetic interconnection between top plate I2| and frame member |0|, affording a magnetic return path from the rear portions of armature |3| and frame member |0|.

As shown in Fig. 24 for the stackup SI', and in Fig. for the stackup S2', each stackup includes an armature |3l. spring-supported at the rear by being spotwelded to its underlying armature spring |22, an armature spring |32 which has a forwardly extending portion underlying the armature. an upper bushing |39 depending from' spring |32; an upper contact spring |33; and a lower contact spring |34. As seen best in Figs. 21 and 22, each stackup SI' to Siu' also includes an arm interconnecting the upper portion thereofwith the immediately preceding starkup. 'This arm is shown at |35 for stackup SI and at |31 for each of the succeeding stackups. One end of such arm overlies the iront end of the associated armature spring |32 and may be aflixed thereto as by spotwelding at points |44 (Fig. 22). As shown in Fig. 22 in connection with stackup S5', an opening may be provided in the concerned end oi' each arm |35 or |31 to receive the reduced portion by which the upper end of bush- 14 ing |33 is attached to the associated armature spring |32.

The left end of arm |35 carries a depending bushing |35 by which contact spring |42 of oilnormal stackup ON' is brought into engagement with the associated contact spring |43 when the armature |3| oi.' stackup SI' responds to the nrst impulse. The left end of each of the arms 31 for stackups S2' to S|0 is offset downwardly to underlie the lower contact spring |34 of the preceding stackup, being separated from such contact spring by a bushing |38.

Armature |3|` of stackup SI' has a' spacing member |40 attached thereto with a comparatively long forward end turned up (Fig. 24) against the lower face of the associated upper pole portion ||6 whereby such armature |3| is normally maintained below the magnetic center line oi pole portions ||5 and ||1, closer to portion ||1 than to portion IIS. Each of the armatures in stackups S2' to SIU' has a spacing member |4|` with a comparatively short upturned end, whereby each such armature is maintained a substantial distance above the magnetic center line, closer to its associated pole portion ||6 than to its lower pole portion Ill. Each of the spacing members |40 and |4|' may be secured to its respective armature as by being spotwelded at points |45 (Fig. 22).

In Fig. 26, showing the modied construction used in a simple signaling system similar to that shownin Fig. 9, the parts 8|' to 81 correspond respectively to' the parts 8| to 81 of Fig. 9.

Operation When a signal is to be transmitted over they ries relay 85' and for winding |06 of electromagnet |02 of the counting device. At its righthand contacts, it closes a circuit for the hold winding |'05 of electromagnet |02.

When impulse contacts 8| are caused to` interrupt the line circuit the desired number of times, line relay 03' momentarily restores a corresponding number of times. Slow-restoring release relay 84' remains operated during impulse transmission. Upon each restoration of line relay 83', a circuit is closed through the left-hand contacts of release relay 84' for the winding of series relay 85', and a parallel circuit for impulse winding |06 of electromagnet |02. Series relay 85' operates responsive to the first impulse and remains operated until an interval after the termination of the nal impulse of the series. Upon operating, relay 85 disconnects one contactin each of the stackups ON and Si'y to SIU'.

Referring again to Figs. 2l to 25, responsive to the described energization of hold winding |05 of electromagnet |`02 (Fig. 25), a considerable magnetic flux is set up inthe portion of the core encircled by this winding but no action of armatures |3| of stackups SI to S|0' occurs responsive to this energization because a major portion of the magnetic iiux generated by winding |05'is shunted to the frame member I0| across the magnetic air gap represented bythe non-magnetic spacing strip |09. The resulting 'flux reaching pole member ||8 and attached yoke `||4, while insuillcient to cause actuation of any of the armatures |3I, is sufcient to maintain in Responsive to the delivery o f the nrst impulse to winding |06 of electromagnet |02, the flux passing to and through parts ||3 land ||`4 is increased sufficiently that the extensions Il! are each magnetized to the operating value of the armatures |3I. At this time,v the armature in each of the stackups S2' to SIG is above the magnetic center line and therefore remains in nor-` mal position,`being attracted upwardly against its spacing member |`4| by the associated' pole portionll. The amature |-3I in the stackup SI', however, being normally maintained below the magnetic center line by spacing member |43,

is immediately attracted downwardly into engagement with the associated pole portion ||1. The associated armature spring |'32 and attached parts |35 and |39 are therebyrcarried downward- 1y. Arm |35 (Figs. 21 to 24),'through its under. t

lying bushing |33, closes off-normal spring |42 against olf-normal spring |43. The bushing |33 underlying and attached to the forward end of armature spring |'33 closes uppercontact spring |33 of stackup Si' with lower contact spring |34, and then imparts movement, through the closed contact springs and associated bushing |38, to the left end of offset arm |31( Fig. 21) attached to front end of armature spring |32 of stackup S2'. The forward end of such armat e spring |32 is therefore carried downwardly a distance equal to the major portion of the downward travel of the armature of the first stackup.

Each of the armature springs |32 of the second to tenth stackups is preferably tensioned slightly against its associated armature to give a trapped pressure for bringing such armature downwardly to advance position responsive to the above described downward movement of the attached arm |31. The armature of stackup S2', however, does not move downwardly for the time being, as it is being attracted upwardlyby the associated pole portion H6, as pointed out. Spring |32 of such stackup therefore yields; its forward end moves downwardly away from the associated armature. During this movement, bushing |39 of stackup S2' carries the associated upper contact spring |32 close to, but not intol engagement with. the contact portion of the associated lower contact spring |34.

First impulse terminated When the first impulse delivered to winding |36 as explainedin connection with Fig. 26 is terminated, the resulting-deenergization of this winding permits the magnetic fiux in portions |18 and ||4 to drop to the normal holding value determined by the thickness of air-gap piece lll! and the magnetization of holdA winding |05. The holding value of the flux is sufficient to maintain any armature in fully operated position. as previously noted, whereby armature |3| l. of stackup SI' remains in operated position notlwithstanding the termination of the operating and ||1 as is shown in Fig. 24 as thev normal position for armature |32 of stackup Si'.

As explained in connection with the similar parts of the first embodiment, the upper contact spring |33 of each stackup S2 to Slll' is tensioned upwardly sumciently to maintain the desired contact pressure between the forward end of armature springs |33 and |34 of the preceding stackup, acting through the concerned onsety As a result of the receipt of the first impulse the contact pairs of stackups ON' and SI' have been closed, and the armature of the second stackup S2 has been moved to advanced position responsive to the termination of such impulse.

Second impulse received If the impulse series being counted contains a second impulse, upon the' receipt of such second impulse by winding |06, parts ||`8 and ||4 are again strongly magnetized, whereupon the armature of stackup S2' moves downwardly from its above-described advanced position into engagement with the upper face of the associated pole portion ||1. When this occurs, the resulting downward movement of the attached arm |31- permits the downwardly tensioned lower spring |34 of stackup Si to move downwardly out of contact with theassociated upper contact spring |33, thereby Aopening the contact pair in the first stackup rat the beginning of the final movement of the armature in stackup S2'. The final movement of the armature in stackup S2' also brings the forward end of the contact springs I'33 and |34 in such stackup into engagement, and then,

through the arm |38 secured in the third stackup, causes a downward flexing movement of the forward end of armature spring |32 voi such third stackup, as, explained in connection with armature spring |32 of stackup S2'.

Second impulse terminated Upon the termination of the second impulse, the armature of stackup S2' remains in its fully operated position, and the armature 32 in the third stackup S3' moves vdownwardly into advance position, as was explained in connection with the advanced movement of the armature of stackup S2.

Succeeding impulses If the impulse series under consideration contains succeeding impulses, the armatures of the concerned succeeding stackups S3' to SIB' respo'nd thereto as described hereinbefore for stackup S2. That is, each such armature executes its final movement responsive to the pertaining impulse, having executed its advance movement responsive to the cessation of the immediately preceding impulse. associated with any such armature is not closed responsive to the advance movement of such armature; is firmly closed responsive to the final movement of such armature; and is again opened responsive tothe beginning of the final movement of the next succeeding armature, if afurther impulse is received.

In the signalling system as disclosed in Fig. 26, when line relay 83' comes to rest in an energized condition at the end of the series of line inter- The contact pair directlyaaoee 17 ruptions, it maintains the winding of release re lay l' energized continuously and maintains open the circuit of series relay and the circuit of impulse winding |00. A moment later, series relay 0l' restores and applies ground potential to one contact in each of the stackups ON and SI' to S|0'. When this occurs, the buzzer B0' sounds because contacts ON' have been closed, and one or another of the signal lamps 01' is lighted ac. cox-ding to which of the stackups SI' to SIO' contains closed contacts, depending upon the number of impulses which have been transmitted to the counting device.

When key 82' is subsequently opened to clear out the system, line and release relays 83' and 04' restore successively. Series relay 00 is operated temporarily responsive to a' circuit closed in the interval required for release relay 0I to restore. It thereupon open-circuits the buzzer 86 and the lighted lamp 81. When release relay 0l' restores, it open-circuits both windings of electromagnet |02, to complete the clearing-out operation. y

Referring again to Figs. 21 to 25, when both windings |00 and |00 of electromagnet |02 are opened, the magnet completely deenergizes, completely demagnetizing parts Il! and Ill..l All of the armatures |3| thereupon restore to their respective normal positions, along with their associated parts.

Referring again to the hold and impulse windings |0l and |06 as shown in Fig. 25, the principal reason for providing the center pole member 01 in place oi' providing a relatively weak (low ampere-turn) hold winding |05 and a relatively strong (high ampere-turn) impulse winding |06, either tandem related or concentrically related on a simple core structure, is that such an arrangement does not respond quickly to the receipt of an impulse or to the'termination thereof because of the well-known retarding action of a magnetic core encircled by a winding Whose circuit is closed. That is, when two windings encircle the same core, and one of them has a closed circuit, induced current in such winding tends to retard any change in the ux passing through the portion of the core which it encircles. Such an arrangement therefore is satisfactory only for impulses of considerable length separated from each other by a considerable time interval, unless the holding winding is rendered comparatively ineflicient with a high ratio of resistance to ampere turns, in which case the induced-current effect is lessened. With the disclosed construction, however, with center pole |01 provided to give a comparatively low-reluctance magnetic shunt path around the portion of the magnet core encircled by the hold winding |05, the impulse winding |08 can produce rapid iiux variations in the associated end of the magnet lcore, which variations pass through the shunt path represented by the center pole member |01 Without materially affecting the flux passing through the hold winding |00.

Windings |05 and |00 may be similar, in which case each tends to generate the same amount of iiux (the same number of klines of force). There is then little or no variation in the flux passing y |01 to frame member |'0I, across the air gap represented bythe -spacer strip |09.

Referring generally to the two embodiments illustrated in the drawings, it is to be noted that the armatures 56 and |3| are of reduced crosssectional area for a major portion of their length. This operates to increase the reluctance Iof the magnetic path through an armature, thereby considerably reducing the amount by which the flux through an armature increases as a result of air-gap reduction consequent upon the movement thereof. Preferably, the total cross-sectional area oi all the armatures of the device is less than the cross-sectional area of the magnetic path at any other point. These two provisions tend to reduce the variation in eiective magnetomotive force consequent upon a number of preceding armatures having been operated.

I claim:

1. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures `associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being movable in its turn by magnetic force emanating from said pole structure to count the corresponding impulse, means normally maintaining each armature except the first out of the effective operating field of the pole structure and for normally maintaining the first armature within sucha iield, whereby only therst armature moves to count the first impulse, and means for preliminarily advancing further armatures successively into the effective operating field of the pole structure during the counting operation in timed sequence with their lrespective corresponding impulses.

2. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being movable in its turn by magnetic force emanating from said pole structure to count the corresponding impulse, means normally maintaining each armature except the first out of the effective operating field of the pole structure and for normally maintaining the first armature within such eld, whereby only the first armature moves to count the first impulse, and means effective during each inter-impulse interval for moving the next succeeding armature from its normal posithrough the portion of the core encircled by the tion to an intermediate position within the eifective operating field of the pole structure.

3. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being y movable in its turn by magnetic force emanating from said pole structure to count the corresponding impulse, means normally maintaining each armature except the iirst out of the eii'ective operating field of the pole structure and for normally maintaining the first armature within such field, whereby only the iirst armature moves to count the rst impulse, and means responsive to the termination of the impulse counted by any armature except the last for moving the next succeeding armature from its normal position to an intervmediate position within the eective operating neld of the pole structure.

4. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulsesl and interarmature tive to execute a counting movement responsive to the next succeeding impulse.

5. In a magnetic counting device including-a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, and interarmature coupling means extending between adjacent armatures, each armature being movable in its turn by magnetic force emanating from said pole structure to count the corresponding impulse, each armature after the first being controlled through the concerned interarmature coupling means, dependent upon the preceding amature having executed its said counting movement, to execute a preliminary movement rendering its operative to execute a counting movement responsive to the next succeeding impulse.

6. In a magnetic counting device according to claim 1, means interlinking each said further armature to the next preceding armature, said interlocking means serving to impart the said preliminary movement to an armature responsive to movement of the next preceding one.

7. In a magnetic counting device according to claim l, lost-motion means interlinking each said further armature to the next preceding armature, said interllnking means serving to impart the said preliminary movement to an armature responsive to movement of the next preceding one, the lost motion in any interlinking means serving to reduce the directly resulting motion of the driven armature of an interlinked pair by an amount substantially equal to the movement of the driving armature from its preliminary advanced position to iinal position.

8. In a magnetic counting device according to claim 1, means for stopping and holding any armature preceding the last armature of the device in a pre-final position until its corresponding impulse subsides, means thereupon eective for continuing the movement of such armature to final position, and interlinking means responsive to the last-named movement for imparting the said preliminary movement to the next succeeding armature.

9. In a magnetic counting device according to claim 1, means iiexibly coupling each armature preceding the last armature of the device with the next succeeding armature, each armature preceding the last serving to` apply force to the coupling between it and the -next succeeding armature incidental to the execution o1" its movement to count the corresponding impulse, means for restraining the concerned succeeding armature from responding to such force until the Iii 20 instant impulse is terminated, such amature thereupon yielding to the said applied force by preliminarily moving into the eiective operating iield oi the pole structure. whereby it executes its lcounting movement responsive to its corresponding impulse, next succeeding.

10. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being'movable in its turn by magnetic force emanating from said pole structure to count the corresponding impulse, means normally maintaining eachv armature except the rst out of the effective operating eld of the pole structure and for normally maintaining the first armature within such field, whereby only the rst armature moves to count the first impulse, each armature preceding the last having va rst contact member and a second contact member vassociated therewith, each such armature serving pursuant to its counting movement to move its first contact member into electrical engagement with its second contact member and to impart movement to its second contact member through pressure applied by way of its firstl and means linking each said second contact member to the next succeeding armature to move such armature into the eiective operating eld of the'pole structure preliminary to the counting of the corresponding impulse, next succeeding, by such armature.

11. In a magnetic counting device according to A claim 10, wherein the concerned linking means serves pursuant to the counting movement of such armature to move the second contact member of the preceding armature out oi' electrical engagement with its associated iirst contact member.

12. In a magnetic counting device, a pole structure providing a pair of opposed pole faces, armatures disposed side by side between said pole faces, means normally maintaining all said armatures in a normal position nearer to the rst pole face than to the second, means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses to said pole structure, each armature in normal position when an impulse is received being retained in such position by the greater attraction of the nearer pole face, means eiective between the iirst and second impulses for advancing the ilrst said armature from its normal position to an' advanced position nearer the second pole face than to the first; said irst armature executing a counting movement from advanced position toward the second pole face responsive to the next succeeding impulse, and interlinking means extending from each said armature preceding the last to the next succeeding one and effective between impulses to move the latter armature from its normal position to its advanced position incidental to the said counting movement of the concerned armature.'

13. In a magnetic counting device, a pole structure providing pole faces, a first armature operatively associated with one pole face, other armatures disposed between pole faces, means normally maintaining each of said other armatures in a normal position wherein it is nearer to one pole face than to another,l lmeans for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses to said pole structure, the ilrst armature operating responsive to the rst impulse by moving toward Vits associated pole face, while each said further armature is then held in normal position by the greater attraction of -its nearer pole face, interlinking position into operative association with its other' pole lfaces responsive to the termination of the impulse serving to operate the preceding armature, whereby said armatures are operated sucxcessively responsive t0 vsaid impulses respectively.

14. In a magnetic counting device, a pair of electromagnets comprising an impulse magnet and a hold magnet, a series of armatures arranged side by side in a plane lying to one side of said magnets, each armature being mounted at the rear end so as to permit movement of the front end transversely of said plane, the rear end of 'each armature being magnetically associated with the rear end ci said magnets, a hold bar magnetically associated with the front end of said hold magnet and underlying a portion of said. armatures at a sufiicient distance that the armatures are normally out of its eiiective4 field.`

'an impulse bar offset from said hold bar and magnetically associated with the front end oi said impulse magnet, said impulse bar more closely underlying said armatures but at a sufficient distance that all armatures succeeding the rst are normally out oi its effective eld, means for energizing the hold magnet and for intermittent- 1y energizing said impulse magnet a desired number of times, the first armature responding to the iirst impulse -by moving into the eiiective field of said hold bar whereby it is retained operated thereafter. and means including interarmature linkage means for moving iurtherarmatures successively into the eiective eld of the impulse bar between impulses, whereby each such further armature is moved into the effective iield of the hold bar responsive to the next succeeding impulse.

15. In a magnetic counting device, an electromagnet having a hold winding and an impulse winding, a series of armatures arrangedV side by side in a row, each armature being mounted at the rear end so as to permit movement of the front end transversely of said row, the rear end of each armature being magnetically associated with the rear end of said magnet, a combined impulse and hold bar magnetically associated with the front end of said magnet, said bar having y a iirst portion underlying all said armatures and having a second portion more closely overlying all said armatures except the iirst, restoring means constantly tending to hold all armatures Ain normal position by urging them away from the underlying portion of said bar, said hold winding serving, when energized, to magnetize said bar weakly, but with suilicient strength to hold any armature which has been moved into close association with said underlying portion thereof, yilald impulse Winding serving, when intermittently energized a desired number of times,.to magnetize said hold bar suiliciently to attract downwardly any armature which stands nearer to the underlying portion than to the overlying portion, and to retain in normal position any armaturewhich stands nearer the overlying portion than to the underlying portion, the first armature responding to the rst impulse by moving into close association with said underlying portion, whereby it is retained operated thereafter, and ilexible interarmature linkage means efl'ective between impulses to move further armaturesY successively across the midpoint between said portions, whereby each such further armature is subsequently moved into close association' with the underlying portion responsive to the next succeeding impulse and is held by said hold magnetization following such impulse.

16. In a magnetic counting device, an electromagnet having a hold winding encircling one portion thereof and an impulse winding encircling another portion thereof, a series of armatures associated with said magnet, the ends of each armature being magnetically associated respectively with the ends oi said magnet; vsaid magnet serving, when magnetized weakly, to hold any armature which has been operated by failing to operate any of them; means, including interarmature coupling means, for causing said armatures to operate successively. responsive respectively to successive `strong energizations of said magnet, depending upon the Weak magnetization being maintained between such strong magnetizations; and means providing a low-reluctance magnetic shunt path around the portion of said magnet encircled by said hold winding, whereby a strong energization of said hold winding produces but the desired weak magnetization of said magnet as a whole, said shunt path serving as a low reluctance by-pass around the hold portion of the magnet for the rapid rise of magnetic flux generated by energization of the impulse winding and a rapid decline of such iiux upon deenergization ofsuch winding in spite of any `retarding effect of a closed circuit path through the hold winding, whereby said armatures respond successively to short impulses separated by short intervals.

17. In a magnetic counting device including a vpole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being movable to count its corresponding impulse responsive to the resulting impulse of ,magnetic force emanating from said pole structure, means normally preventing each armature except the first from moving to count `any said impulse of force, and means prepared responsive to each said force impulse preceding the last, and rendered effective responsive simply tothe termination thereof, for,nullifying said preventing meanswith respect to the next succeeding amature.

18. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and mean's for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being movable to count its corresponding impulse responsive tothe resulting impulse of magnetic force emanating from said pole structure, means normally preventing each armature except the first from moving to count any said impulse of force, and means prepared responsive to the counting movement of each armature precedingthe last, and rendered effective responsive simply to the termination thereof, for nullifying said preventing means with respect to the next j 23 said movingy means including means for controlling each counting member after the first through the concerned inter-member coupling means, de-

pendent upon the'preceding counting member having executed its counting movement, to execute a preliminary movement responsive to the termination of the impulse preceding the one to which such member corresponds, such preliminary movement rendering the concerned counting member operative to execute its counting movement responsive to lthe next succeeding impulse.

20. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for operatively magnetizing it a desired number ot times. armatures associated with said pole structure. means rendering said armatures attractable to said pole structure, in succession only, responsive respectively to said magnetizations thereof, and means elective between said magnetizations for maintaining said pole structure magnetized relatively weakly but suillciently to hold the armatures which have been attracted thereto.

JOHN I. BELLAMY.

No references cited in reissue oase. 

